We need to be awake

Brian Boardman November 18, 2017 0 0

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Matthew 25: 1-13

1 ‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” 7 Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” 9 But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” 10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” 12 But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” 13 Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

If I attempted to condense and summarise this reading, perhaps it would sound like this: The five virgins who found peace when the bridegroom arrived, were those who had done the pre-work.

Notice that they all fell asleep, reminding us that we are human and therefore frail and weak. But this is no excuse for not being prepared for what we all know will come. If we choose not to be prepared then we cannot expect others to bail us out at the last minute. In the final analysis, we all have to endure the consequences of our own foolish behaviours.

Perhaps at this point we should ask ourselves the question “What does it mean to be awake?” 

Oh, that I could be like those who claim to be bright and breezy, fresh as a daisy after a good night’s sleep. If you are anything like me, then your condition on waking could best be described as 'sluggish' (to put it kindly). But in the context of this passage, to be awake is much more to do with spiritual alertness than our physical state. 

Are we spiritually 'switched on', 'tuned in', 'engaged', so that we are alert to the opportunities for service that life constantly presents to us? Are we prepared in the sense that we have done the pre-work such as prayer, studying His Word, meditation, equipping ourselves with the spiritual tools we need for the tasks He presents to us? It is true that, like the return of the Bridegroom, we do not know the day and the hour when we will need to be prepared to play our part in some work that God has given us. When we are prepared for the inevitable trials of life, it is accompanied by peace. And when we are prepared, we can be the ones privileged to bring peace to others too. But more than anything, we need to be ready in our hearts for Jesus’ return.

Holy Father, shake us from our spiritual slumber, wipe the sleep from our spiritual eyes, in Your mercy and grace equip us with the tools we need to do Your work in this world. May Your Spirit constantly keep us alert to the opportunities You lay before us to bring peace, reconciliation and forgiveness in our families, our congregations and our wider communities. Amen.